Portable collapsible work table

ABSTRACT

A work table for carrying tools thereon (e.g. a power saw) which is rollably transportable between different locations and collapsible in a manner which facilitates loading of the work table onto the the bed of a truck. The legs of the work table are pivotally attached thereto and moveable between an upright position and a collapsed horizontal position generally beneath the horizontal top surface of the work table. A first pair of casters are attached to the front legs of the table and a second pair of casters are attached to a frame extension member which is movable between a coplanar position substantially beneath the top surface and a position extending horizontally outward from an end thereof; the first and second pairs of casters being generally coplanar when the work table is in its collapsed position so as to allow rollable movement of the carrier on the first and second pairs of casters.

[451 June 13, 1972 Cole [54] PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE WORK TALE [72] Inventor: Willie E. Cole, Ryder, N. Dak. 58779 [22] Filed: Aug. 12, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 63,103

[52] U.S.Cl. ..l08/50, 108/12, 108/102, I 280/41 R, 108/132 [51] Int.Cl. ..A47b 31/04 I [58] Field ofSearch ..108/50,12, 19,11,93, 115, 108/132, 102; 248/1882; 280/41 R; 296/20 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,088,770 5/1963 Well ..280/41 1,639,801 8/1927 l-leise. ..296/20 1,063,642 6/1913 Birdsall..... 108/93 X 3,493,262 2/1970 Ferneau.... .280/41 X 2,877,048 3/1959 Wei1...... 280/41 X 2,613,789 10/1952 McLaughlin. ...l08/93X 3,082,016 3/ 1963 Praft ..296/20 X 3,079,167 2/1963 Russell ..280/4l 3,007,709 1 H1961 Munson ..280/4l X Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Attorney-Merchant & Gould [57] ABSTRACT A work table for carrying tools thereon (e.g. a power saw) which is rollably transportable between different locations and collapsible in a manner which facilitates loading of the work table onto the the bed of a truck. The legs of the work table are pivotally attached thereto and moveable between an upright position and a collapsed horizontal position generally beneath the horizontal top surface of the work table. A first pair of casters are attached to the front legs of the table and a second pair of casters are attached to a frame extension member which is movable between a coplanar. position substantially beneath the top surface and a position extending horizontally outward from an end thereof; the first and second pairs of casters being generally coplanar when the work table is in its collapsed position so as to allow rollable movement of the carrier on the first and second pairs of casters.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUW I912 3,669,031

INVENTOR.

WLL/E E1 Co/ A T TORNEYS PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE WORK TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable collapsible work table suitable for carrying various tools thereon.

It is frequently desirable to transport a work table (e.g. a work surface on which a power saw is mounted) between different locations. In certain instances, the different locations will be reasonably proximate so as to allow the work table to be manually (i.e. rollably) transported therebetween. In other instances, however, the distance between the different locations will necessitate utilization of a motor vehicle for transporting the work table.

Generally, the prior art has provided means (e.g. wheels or casters) for rollably transporting a' work table between reasonably proximate locations. However, when it has been necessary to transport the work table by motor vehicle (e.g. on the bed of a truck), the prior art work tables have been un- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The work table provided by the present invention includes a support frame having a generally horizontal top surface which is suitable for carrying a tool (e.g. a power saw) thereon. A plurality of legs are pivotally attached to the support frame and are inwardly swingable between a substantially vertical first position to a substantially horizontal second position beneath the top surface (i.e. the table's collapsed position). At least one of the legs include first roller means (e.g. a caster) attached thereto for allowing rollable transportation of the work table between different locations and to facilitate loading of the work table onto a motor vehicle. The support frame further includes guide means attached thereto and which carry a frame extension means moveable along the guide means between a first position which is substantially beneath the horizontal top surface and a second position extending horizontally outward from the support frame. Second roller means attached to the frame extension means extend downwardly therefrom to a position which is generally coplanar with the first roller means when the work table is in its collapsed position.

The work table described above provides roller means attached to the table legs for rollable transportation thereof. Further, the present work table can be readily loaded onto a motor vehicle; the roller means attached to the frame extension member engaging the bed of the motor vehicle and as the work table is moved forward thereon the pivotable legs being swung to their collapsed position and the roller means attached thereto engaging the bed of the motor vehicle to allow rollable movement of the collapsed work table onto the truck bed. Finally, these advantageous features are provided by a work table which is readily manufactured, inexpensive and which will rigidly hold a tool mounted thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts of the invention throughout the FIG. 4 is a fragmented cross-sectional view along the plane 4-4 in FIG. 2 illustrating the work table in its collapsed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The portable and collapsible work table, generally designated 10, provided by the present invention includes a rectangular support frame 12 having a generally rectangular top surface 14 carried thereby. A pair of front legs 16a and 16b and a pair of rear legs 18a and 18b are pivotally attached to support frame 12 and maintain support frame 12 and top surface 14 in a generally horizontal position when the legs are in their upright position as illustrated in FIGS. l-3. A tool such as an electric power saw 20 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) is carried by horizontal top surface 14 and is rigidly mounted thereto.

Work table 10 further includes frame extension means or sliding support 22. Sliding support 22 is carried by a guide means or a pair of tracks 24a and 24b. As illustrated, tracks 24a and 24b are formed by oppositely disposed first and second side portions of support frame 12 extending vertically downward from top surface 14 and by top and bottom portions extending horizontally inward from the respective vertical side portions. Sliding support 22 is moveable along tracks 24a and 24b between a first position in which substantially the entire sliding support is positioned immediately beneath top surface 14 and a second position in which the sliding support extends horizontally outward from the forward end of frame 12. A pair of set screws 25a and 25b threadedly engage tracks 24a and 24b, respectively, and when in their locking position engage sliding support 22 to prevent movement thereof relative to frame support 12.

Sliding support 22 includes a pair of castors 27a and 27b which are rollably attached to vertical members 28a and 28b, respectively, extending vertically downward from their attachment to sliding support 22 near opposite edges of the forward end thereof. A pair of vertical members 300 and 3% extend upward from the forward end of sliding support 22 and carry a roller 32 therebetween. As illustrated, roller 32 aides in handling large pieces of work such as lumber piece 35 during the cutting operation when the tool carried by work table 10 is a power saw. The vertical height of members 30a and 30b is preferably adjustable. Horizontal braces 37 and 38 extend between vertical members 300 and 30b and provide transverse support therefor.

Pivotally mounted front legs 16a and 16b and rear legs 18a and 18b are each inwardly swingable from a first position extending slightly angularly downward from support frame 12 to a second position (i.e. collapsed position) in which the legs are positioned beneath top surface 14 in a generally horizontal plane. Front legs 16a and 16b are pivotally mounted to a cross brace 44 slightly inward from the front ends of oppositely disposed side portions of support frame 12 and are retained in their first positions by struts 45a and 4512 having a slightly over centered pivoted break point allowing the struts to be folded into two coextensive portions so that the front legs can be swung into their collapsed position. Struts 45a and 45b are pivotally attached to a cross brace 46 and legs 16a and 16b, respectively, near the midpoints thereof. A pair of cables 47a and 47b extend between each of the struts 45a and 45b, respectively, near the break point thereof and the forward end of frame 12. As will be subsequently explained, cables 47a and 47b provide automatic folding of the front legs as the work table is moved forward ontoa truck bed. As illustrated, a horizontal support 48 extends between front legs 16a and 16b and a pair of wheels or casters 49a and 4% are carried by an axle 50 extending through openings near the bottom end of the legs; casters 49a and 49b resting on horizontal surface or floor 40.

Rear legs 18a and 13b are pivotably mounted to frame 12 for movement about aligned axes 51a and 51b. A pair of set screws 51a and 51b threadedly engage support member 12 through the openings 53a and 53b in upper end portions 54a and 54b, respectively, of the rear legs. As illustrated, openings 53a and 53b define a small are so as to allow the rear legs to be positioned at various angles with respect to support frame 12 (thereby varying the height of the rearward portion of work table over a small adjustment range) and so as to allow the rear legs to be retained in a horizontal position beneath support frame 12 when in their collapsed state. The rear legs can also include an adjustable end portion, not shown, for varying the vertical height thereof. A horizontal member 55 extends between rear legs 18a and 18b and provides strengthening thereof.

To transport work table 10 between locations reasonably proximate to one another, the rear legs 18a and 18b are lifted above floor 40 by manually lifting upwardly on a horizontal handle or bar 56 attached to support frame 12 at the rearward end thereof. The work table is then pushed about utilizing casters 49a and 49b to provide rollable movement thereof about floor 40.

When it is desired to load work table 10 onto a motor vehicle such as a pickup bed 60 (shown in phantom in FIG. I) having a tailgate 61 extending outwardly therefrom in a coplanar manner, sliding support 22 is positioned in its extended position outwardly directed from the forward end of frame support 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, work table 10 and particularly vertical members 28a and 28b are designed so that when the work table is in its upright position the casters 27a and 27b are at a height approximately equal to the height of a standard pickup bed. However, the vertical height of casters 27a and 27b can be increased or decreased by lowering or raising, respectively, the rearward end of the work table.

On positioning the work table as shown in FIG. 1, casters 27a and 27b engage tailgate 61 and set screws 52a and 52b are loosened so rear legs 18a and 18b can be pivoted to the generally horizontal position beneath top surface 14 shown in FIG. 4. Using handle 55 to support the rearward weight of work table 10, table 10 is then pushed forward on casters 27a and 27b onto truck bed 60. As the work table is moved forward, cables 47a and 47b engage the tailgate 61 causing struts 45a and 45b, respectively, to pivot at their pivot points from a slightly over center supporting relationship allowing front legs 16a and 16b to automatically swing inwardly into the generally horizontal or collapsed position beneath horizontal top surface 14 as shown in FIG. 4. Casters 49a and 49b remain freely rotatable in the collapsed position; legs 16a and 16b engaging cross brace 46 so as to prevent casters 49a and 49b from contacting top surface 14. The work table is pushed onto pickup bed 60 using casters 28a and 28b to provide rollable movement thereof until casters 49a and 49bengage tailgate 61 after which the entire weight of work table 10 is supported by caster pairs 27a and 27b and 49a and 49b and further rollable movement onto bed 60 is readily provided thereby. In situations where work table 10 or the tool carried thereby is of great weight, the work table can be designed so that rear legs 18a and 18b need not be pivoted to their horizontal position until casters 49a and 49b engage tailgate 61. This allows the rearward weight of work table 10 to be occassionally rested on the rear legs until casters 49a and 49b provide support for the rearward weight after which, for example, brace 55 can be removed and legs 18a and 18b rotated clockwise (as shown in FIG. 1) to their horizontal position.

The work table provided by the present invention is 1) collapsible and (2) includes frame extension means which serve as an aid in handling large pieces of work and also facilitate the loading of the work table onto a motor vehicle (e.g. a pickup bed) for transportation of the work table between distant locations. Further, the roller means attached to the pivotable legs facilitate loading of the work table onto a motor vehicle and allow the work table to be rollably transported between proximate locations when the pivotable legs are in their upright position. These advantageous features are provided by a work table design which is inexpensive to manufacture from a lightweight metal or some other suitable material and which will securely hold a tool (e.g. a power saw) carried thereby.

As the foregoing description is considered illustrative only of the principles of the present invention, numerous changes and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable collapsible work table, comprising:

a. a generally rectangular frame having a substantially horizontal top surface carried thereby suitable for securing a tool thereto, said support frame having oppositely disposed first and second sides and first and second ends;

b. a first pair of legs pivotally mounted to said support frame adjacent said first end of said support frame;

c. a second pair of legs pivotally mounted to said support frame adjacent said second end of said support frame;

d. guide means attached to said first and second sides of said support frame;

e. frame extension means carried by said guide means and moveable between a first generally horizontal position substantially beneath said horizontal surface and a second position extending horizontally outward from said first end of said support frame;

f. a wheel rollably attached to each leg of said first pair of g. wheel means rollably attached to said frame extension means and extending downwardly therefrom to a position generally coplanar with said wheels connected to said first pair of legs when said legs are in said second position;

h. a first and second strut member each having a first end attached to a different one of said first pair of legs, a second end attached to said support frame, and a pivotable break point between said first and second legs; and

i. first and second cable means each having a first end fixed to said support frame adjacent said first end thereof and a second end fixed to a different one of said first and second strut members for moving said struts at said pivotable break point causing said legs to pivot to said second position.

2. The work table of claim 1 including guide means wherein:

a. said guide means are attached to said support frame beneath said top surface; and

b. said frame extension means is carried by said guide means and moveable therealong between a first position having a substantial portion thereof beneath said top surface and a second position having a substantial portion thereof extending horizontally outward from said top surface.

3. The work table of claim 2 wherein:

a. said support frame has a generally rectangular shape in a plane parallel to said horizontal top surface including oppositely disposed first and second ends; and

b. said frame extension means extends outwardly from said first end of said rectangular-shaped support frame in said second position.

4. The work table of claim 3 wherein:

a. said rectangular support frame includes oppositely disposed first and second side members directed vertically downward from said top surface; and

b. said guide means are attached to said first and second side members.

5. The work table of claim 3 wherein:

a. said frame extension means is substantially coextensive with said support frame in said first position and includes oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end extending horizontally outward from said top surface when said frame extension means is in said second position; and

b. said roller means includes a pair of wheels rotatably attached adjacent the first end of said frame extension means.

6. The work table of claim 3 wherein:

a. said plurality of legs includes first and second legs pivotally attached to said support frame adjacent said first end and third and fourth legs pivotally attached to said support frame adjacent said second end thereof; and

3,669,03 1 5 6 b. said first roller means include first and second wheels break point between said first and second ends; and

Total-ably attached said first and SeCOnd 1e85, p b. said cable means includes first and second cables each tively' having a first end attached to said support frame adjacent 7. The work table ofclalm 61ncludmg first and second strut said first end thereof and a Second end attached to said members and cable means wherein: first and second strut members res ectivel for ivotin a. said first and second strut members each have a first end p p g 881d legs to said second position.

attached to said support frame, a second end attached to said first and second legs, respectively, and a pivotable 

1. A portable collapsible work table, comprising: a. a generally rectangular frame having a substantially horizontal top surface carried thereby suitable for securing a tool thereto, said support frame having oppositely disposed first and second sides and first and second ends; b. a first pair of legs pivotally mounted to said support frame adjacent said first end of said support frame; c. a second pair of legs pivotally mounted to said support frame adjacent said second end of said support frame; d. guide means attached to said first and second sides of said support frame; e. frame extension means carried by said guide means and moveable between a first generally horizontal position substantially beneath said horizontal surface and a second position extending horizontally outward from said first end of said support frame; f. a wheel rollably attached to each leg of said first pair of legs; g. wheel means rollably attached to said frame extension means and extending downwardly therefrom to a position generally coplanar with said wheels connected to said first pair of legs when said legs are in said second position; h. a first and second strut member eAch having a first end attached to a different one of said first pair of legs, a second end attached to said support frame, and a pivotable break point between said first and second legs; and i. first and second cable means each having a first end fixed to said support frame adjacent said first end thereof and a second end fixed to a different one of said first and second strut members for moving said struts at said pivotable break point causing said legs to pivot to said second position.
 2. The work table of claim 1 including guide means wherein: a. said guide means are attached to said support frame beneath said top surface; and b. said frame extension means is carried by said guide means and moveable therealong between a first position having a substantial portion thereof beneath said top surface and a second position having a substantial portion thereof extending horizontally outward from said top surface.
 3. The work table of claim 2 wherein: a. said support frame has a generally rectangular shape in a plane parallel to said horizontal top surface including oppositely disposed first and second ends; and b. said frame extension means extends outwardly from said first end of said rectangular-shaped support frame in said second position.
 4. The work table of claim 3 wherein: a. said rectangular support frame includes oppositely disposed first and second side members directed vertically downward from said top surface; and b. said guide means are attached to said first and second side members.
 5. The work table of claim 3 wherein: a. said frame extension means is substantially coextensive with said support frame in said first position and includes oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end extending horizontally outward from said top surface when said frame extension means is in said second position; and b. said roller means includes a pair of wheels rotatably attached adjacent the first end of said frame extension means.
 6. The work table of claim 3 wherein: a. said plurality of legs includes first and second legs pivotally attached to said support frame adjacent said first end and third and fourth legs pivotally attached to said support frame adjacent said second end thereof; and b. said first roller means include first and second wheels rotatably attached to said first and second legs, respectively.
 7. The work table of claim 6 including first and second strut members and cable means wherein: a. said first and second strut members each have a first end attached to said support frame, a second end attached to said first and second legs, respectively, and a pivotable break point between said first and second ends; and b. said cable means includes first and second cables each having a first end attached to said support frame adjacent said first end thereof and a second end attached to said first and second strut members, respectively, for pivoting said legs to said second position. 